We had a really lovely Christmas this year, jam-packed with family, friends and food!
Family time!
Every year we spend Christmas Eve morning/afternoon in Frankenmuth to visit Bronners and have the famous Bavarian Inn chicken dinner (lunch). This year we decided to stay at the Bavarian Inn the night before - best decision ever! We got a really great deal on the room, and I had no idea how much stuff there was to do within the hotel. We had dinner with the Odglens, and then lots of swimming afterward. Evie was pretty tired out, so I snuggled with her in the hotel room while Maggie and Will played in the arcade and danced in the lounge.
Ready to hit the pool
Fun and games
Party girl
The next day we went to Bronners to meet Santa. Maggie did great and was really excited; Evie is still not a fan of Santa.
Waiting to meet Santa... nervous?
Evie has had better days
(Maggie told Santa she wanted a "jumping over the moon unicorn")
Bobby's family and my parents met up with us at Bronners for a little bit of shopping, and then we went back to Bavarian for a delicious lunch with the Donoghues!
Doing a little Christmas shopping
Grandkids love posing for pictures
My little gnome girl
I played piano for midnight mass at St. Michael's that evening... not going to lie, I was running on fumes (and a large Starbucks coffee) by that point. It was really great to play with a full band though!
Christmas morning I went to get Maggie... her eyes popped open when I sat on her bed and she whispered, "did Santa come?" It was precious. Evie didn't really understand, but was pretty excited by all the presents downstairs!
Christmas morning!
Maggie got her special unicorn with a "moon" ornament around it's neck. We call her Moonbeam, or Moonie for short. Evie got several things, but seemed most excited about her new toothbrush (she rrrreally loves brushing her teeth).
I love dental hygiene!
Welcome to the family, Moonbeam
Sooo happy
Jamie gave me an amazing gift - I finally have a wedding photo album! He made us a really beautiful Shutterfly book, and I loved it! We also continued our tradition of making an ornament; we both ended up making an ornament about "Stranger Things" (which you should watch if you haven't!). You can probably guess who did each one.
We went over to the Donoghues late morning for gifts, and Maggie and Evie were in heaven! We all went over in our PJs and had a nice, relaxing time with everyone.
They all showed up with the same pants on, so embarrassing
Woot woot!
"Reading" a story to Uncle Justin
Cuddles with Grandpa
Afterward we went to my parents' house for Christmas dinner. It was really great to see the extended family, and to see all the kids running around together.
Not a great picture, but I just love Evie in this dress
Grace the Great!
Super cool girl cousins
Evie managed to get ice cream from like four different people
Trying to get a picture of us girls... dying of laughter while my dad tries to figure out an iphone
Tell me your life story, Claire
Dinner time at the kids table
Uncle Tom and Eric
Looking a little guilty over there...
Partying down... literally
On Monday, we did nothing but lay around and play with new toys most of the day. I did not have the energy for anything else!
Sometimes you just need to take it easy
Jamie met up with some of his extended family at Java Jungle in the afternoon, and then we all went to dinner together afterward. Jamie's cousin Betsy has two little girls that are a little bit older than ours, and Maggie and Evie absolutely adored them!
Hanging with the big kids
Dinner
Such a dude in Sue's hat
My other dude
We celebrated Christmas with my immediate family the following day, and had a really fun time hanging out.
Sister time
A picture of the girls (taken by a teenager this time)
The anticipation is palpable
You guys look a little worn out
My beautiful, talented, smart nieces and nephew
All but two of the grandkids
No one's looking - go for it!
How we got them all to sit at the same time? Christmas. Miracle.
My sweeties
Pigtail posse. Tough chicks with disarming charm.
It's been nice having this week off work, though I can't seem to sit down and relax, there always something to do! We're attempting to do a little work in our den/guest room/toy room/office this week... not sure if that will actually happen...
Big news - the pacifiers are gone! We stopped giving them to Evie at bedtime a few days ago, and she is doing pretty well. The first couple nights were a little rough, 30-45 minutes of crying, but she's doing okay now. Yay!
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